“And now, where are you running to?,” Silva questioned. “I’d give him the number one (on the line to fight me) easily, I’m challenging him…I want him.”

Silva and Belfort have fought once before. Both met at UFC 17.5: Ultimate Brazil in October 1998. In that bout, Belfort ran over Silva with an array of strikes, stopping Silva in just 44 seconds of the first round.

Silva is scheduled to return to the Octagon at UFC 130: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 against Brian Stann, while Belfort has yet to have an opponent lined up for his next bout.